When you complete this chapter, you will have experienced the power and capabilities of SolidWorks Flow Simulation, including:
The benefits of using fluid-flow analysis.
The ease of use of SolidWorks Flow Simulation to perform analysis on your design.
The steps for performing upfront analysis on your designs.
The integration between SolidWorks Flow Simulation and SolidWorks.
The results of cost reduction with virtual prototypes to save resources.
The ability to document your analysis findings automatically.
SolidWorks Flow Simulation SolidWorks Flow Simulation is the first easy-to-use fluid-flow
simulation and thermal analysis program that is fully embedded inside SolidWorks. You will utilize SolidWorks Flow Simulation to understand, validate, and improve new product ideas during the design phase.
SolidWorks Flow Simulation provides the user insight into parts or assemblies related to fluid flow, heat transfer, and forces on immersed or surrounding solids.
You will use the SolidWorks Flow Simulation Wizard to analyze the drag created by the SeaBotix LBV150 assembly as it moves through seawater. This information is critical to choose the correct size thruster required for the assembly to perform its tasks.
Starting a SolidWorks Flow Simulation Session
1 Open the SeaBotix LBV150 Assembly.
Click Open from the Menu bar toolbar.
Double-click
LBV_ASSY from the SeaBotix\SolidWorks Flow Simulation folder. A simplified model opens in the Graphics area.
2 Activate SolidWorks Flow Simulation module.
Click the Options drop-down arrow from the Menu bar toolbar as illustrated.
Click Add-Ins.The Add-Ins dialog box is displayed.
Check the SolidWorks Flow Simulation 2012 box.
Click OK from the Add-Ins dialog box. The Flow Simulation tab is displayed in the
CommandManager.
3 Start the SolidWorks Flow Simulation Wizard.
Click the Flow
Simulation tab located in the
CommandManager.
Clickthe Wizard tool. The Wizard - Project Configuration box is displayed.
Create new is selected by default. Accept the default settings.
Click Next>. The Wizard Unit System dialog box is displayed.
Click IPS (in-lb-s) for Unit system.
Click inside the Velocity Unit box.
Click Knot from the drop-down menu as illustrated.
Click .123 from the drop-down menu from the Decimals in results display column.
Click Next>. The Wizard - Analysis Type dialog box is displayed.
Click the External box for Analysis type.
Click Next>. The Wizard - Default Fluid dialog box is displayed.
Expand the Liquids folder.
Click Water.
Click the Add button.
Water is displayed in the Project Fluids box.
Click Next>. The Wizard - Wall
Conditions dialog box is displayed. Accept the default settings.
Click Next>.The Wizard - Initial and Ambient Conditions dialog box is displayed.
Double-click inside the Value box of Velocity in X direction as illustrated.
Enter 2 kn for Velocity.
Click Next>. The Wizard - Results and Geometry Resolution dialog box is displayed.
Note: Two knots is the operating speed.
4 Complete the SolidWorks Flow Simulation Wizard.
Accept all default settings. Click the Finish button.
5 View the Simulation.
Press the z key three or four times to Zoom out to view the model. The surrounding box simulates the seawater around the assembly.
6 Analyze the Drag.
Click the Flow Simulation analysis tree tab.
Expand the Input Data folder.
Right-click Goals.
Click Insert Global Goals. The Global Goals
PropertyManager is displayed.
Scroll down and check the Max box in Force(X).
Click OK from the Global Goals PropertyManager.
7 Run the Analysis.
Click Run from the Flow Simulation tab in the CommandManager.
Note: To save classroom time, we will stop the analysis and open the Results folder to review completed results.
8 Stop the Analysis.
Wait until the third iteration and click Stop from the Solver box as illustrated.
Click No to the question,
“Do you want to save the results?”
Click File, Close from the Solver Main menu.
9 Open the Configuration with the Solved Results.
Click the ConfigurationManager tab.
Double-click the Default (3) configuration as illustrated.
Click the Flow Simulation analysis tree tab.
Right-click the Results folder.
Click Load Results. The Load Results dialog
Double-click 3.fld in folder 3.
10 Create a Section Plot.
Expandthe Results folder.
Right-click the Cut Plots folder.
Click Insert. The Cut Plots PropertyManager is displayed.
Front Plane is selected by default.
Expand LBV_ASSY from the fly-out FeatureManager. View the features. Front Plane is displayed in the Section Plane box.
Click the Contours button in the Display box.
Click the drop-down menu in the Contours box to select Velocity as illustrated.
Click the Adjust
Minimum and Maximum button. View the range.
11 View the Section Plot.
Click OK from the Cut Plot PropertyManager. View the Section plot in the Graphics area.
Note: Click Flow Simulation, Units from the Main menu bar to modify decimal places in results display.
12 Move the Section Plot in the Graphics area.
Expand the Cut Plots folder.
Click Cut Plot1. View the control arrow in the Graphics area.
Click and drag the control arrow to the left side of the computational domain.
View the changing results of the Section plot.
Click and drag the control arrow to the right side of the computational domain.
Move the Section Plot back to its original location in the computational domain.
13 View the moving Computational Domain.
Right-click Cut Plot1.
Click Play. View the results in the Graphics area.
14 Stop the moving Computational Domain.
Right-click Cut Plot1.
Click Stop. View the results in the Graphics area.
15 Hide the Computational Domain.
Right-click the Computational Domain folder.
Click Hide.
16 Create a Second Cut Plot.
Right-click the Cut Plots folder.
Click Insert. Front Plane is selected by default.
17 Change the Selected Plane.
Expand LBV_Assy from the fly-out FeatureManager.
Click Top Plane from the fly-out FeatureManager. Top is
displayed in the Selection plane or face box.
18 Continue the Second Cut Plot.
Click the Contours button.
Select Pressure from the drop-down menu for Parameter.
Click the Adjust Minimum and Maximum button. View the range.
Click OK from the Cut Plot PropertyManager. View the Section plots in the Graphics area.
19 Hide the first Section Plot.
Right-click Cut Plot1.
Click Hide. View the results.
Note: Click the FeatureManager tree tab as illustrated to view the full Graphics area.
20 Hide the Section Plots.
Right-click the Cut Plots folder.
Click Hide All. View the model in the Graphics area.
Applying Flow Trajectories
Flow trajectories are displayed as flow streamlines. Flow streamlines are curves where the flow velocity vector is tangent to that curve at any point on the curve.
Applying Flow Trajectories 1 Create a Flow Trajectory.
Right-click the Flow Trajectories folder.
Click Insert. The Flow Trajectories PropertyManager is displayed.
Expand LBV_Assy the fly-out FeatureManager.
Click Right Plane. Right is displayed in the Reference box.
Slide the Offset slider as illustrated to approximately -21.
Click OK from the Flow Trajectories PropertyManager. Flow Trajectories 1 is displayed.
Zoom-out and rotate the model to view the plot.
2 Edit the Flow Trajectory.
Expand the Flow Trajectories folder.
Right-click Flow Trajectories 1.
Click Edit Definition. The Flow Trajectories PropertyManager is displayed.
Pin the Flow Trajectories PropertyManager.
Enter 100 for the Number of Points as illustrated.
Click Lines with Arrows from the drop-down menu in the Appearance box.
Un-Pin the Flow Trajectories PropertyManager.
Click OK from the Flow Trajectories PropertyManager.
View the plot. If needed, click the FeatureManager tree tab to hide or click and drag the Pressure bar.
3 Animate the Flow Trajectory study.
Right-click the Flow Trajectory 1 folder.
Click Animate. The Animation 1 tab is displayed at the bottom of the Graphics area.
Click Play . View the animation of the model.
Click OK from the Animation toolbar to return to the
4 Hide the Flow Trajectory.
Right-click the Flow Trajectories 1 folder.
Click Hide. View the Graphics area.
5 Set the Goal Plots.
Expand the Results folder.
Right-click the Goal Plots folder as illustrated.
Click Insert. The Goal Plot PropertyManager is displayed.
Check the GGX-Component of Force1 box as illustrated.
Click OK from the Goal Plot PropertyManager. The Goals dialog box is displayed. View your options.
6 View the Excel Plot.
Click the bottom Force (X) tab.
View the plot.
7 Close the Excel Plot and return to SolidWorks Flow Simulation.
Click Close.
Select No when prompted to Save.
8 Save and Close the model.
Click File, Close from the SolidWorks Main menu.
Click Yes when prompted to save. You are finished with the SolidWorks Flow Simulation section of the HOTD manual.
SolidWorks Flow Simulation
During this short session on using SolidWorks Flow Simulation, you have had a brief exposure to the main concepts of fluid-flow simulation. SolidWorks Flow Simulation gives you insight into parts and assemblies related to fluid flow, heat transfer, and forces on immersed or surrounded solids.
The only fluid-flow simulation product fully integrated with SolidWorks, SolidWorks Flow Simulation is incredibly easy to use; you simply tell the software what you’re interested in instead of having to translate analysis design goals into numerical criteria and iteration numbers.
Access physical fluid models for
engineering applications. SolidWorks Flow Simulation can analyze a wide range of real
fluids such as air, water, juice, ice cream, honey, plastic melts, toothpaste, and blood, which makes it ideal for engineers in nearly every industry.
Simulate real-world operating conditions. SolidWorks Flow Simulation includes several types of boundary conditions to represent real-life situations.
Automate fluid-flow tasks. SolidWorks Flow Simulation utilizes a number of automation tools to simplify the analysis process and help you to work more efficiently.
Interpret results with powerful and intuitive visualization tools. Once you have completed your analysis, SolidWorks Flow Simulation offers a variety of results visualization tools that allow you to gain valuable insight into the performance of your model.
Collaborate and share analysis results. SolidWorks Flow Simulation makes it easy to collaborate and share analysis results effectively with everyone involved in the product development process.
Notes: